Weather Report: Tom Skilling 7-Day Forecast WGN-TV Weather Center

Spring arrives amid late winter chill

March 19, 2006|By Tom Skilling

The vernal (spring) equinox occurs Monday at 12:26 p.m. CST, marking the beginning of astronomical spring in the northern hemisphere. Despite the fanfare, temperatures remain mired at late February or early March levels right on through the next seven days. The ongoing cool spell results from the tightly blocked upper pattern that drives a steady stream of frigid high pressure southward from the Canadian Arctic. Besides the chill, this air is incredibly dry. Dew points around Chicago hovered in the single digits Saturday afternoon, causing very dry indoor relative humidity.

The only change in this pattern of repetitive dry days with chilly north winds occurs Tuesday, when a modest storm system passes well south of Chicago. The associated moisture shield and chance of light snow reaches into the southern suburbs and maybe as far north as the city. Models still hint at a real return to spring weather in about nine days.

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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.